In Belgian Battery Corner Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 39501 Private George William Byram serving with the Durham Light Infantry who died 08/11/1917.
He had been transferred to (19280) 33rd Company Labour Corps
He was the son of John and Margaret Byram, of 16, Goschen Street, Southwick on Wear, Sunderland.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Byram, one of 8 children of whom by 1911 only 5 had survived, was the 4th born of 5 sons, 3 daughters and 1 gender unknown. His father John William Byram was born in 1858 at Southwick on Wear, County Durham, as was his mother Margaret Veitch in 1866, they were married in 1886, district of Sunderland. In the census of 1891 they were living at 60, James Armstrong Terrace, Southwick, Sunderland, with their 3 sons, John Veitch born 1887, Joseph Wilson 1888 and Frederick 1890, George William was born in the latter part of 1891, John Snr was employed as an iron ship plater.
Over the next 10 years Margaret gave birth to a further 4 children, Robert 1893, Florence Mary E. 1896, Margaret Ann 1900 and 1 gender unknown, deceased. The family by now had moved to 60, Collingwood Street, John Snr working as a plater was still the only breadwinner. Unfortunately, their son John Veitch (14) had died in 1900, Florence (6) died 2 years later in 1902. The family remained at Collingwood Street, by 1911 all the male members of the family were in full employment. John Snr and Frederick (20) as platers, Joseph (22) is described as a monumental sculptor, George William (19) a grocer’s assistant and Robert (17) a boot repairer, Margaret (11) attended school.
Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany on August 4th 1914. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country. George William enlisted at Sunderland during 1915 assigned as Private Byram to the Durham Light Infantry. His initial training complete he departed with the British Expeditionary Force as of January 1916 for the Western Front. Unfortunately, his military record has not been found and many discrepancies exist, not least of all his service number and rank.
The CWGC has the entry for George William as Private 39501 Durham Light Infantry transferred to the 33rd Labour Corps as service number 19280. This latter number is repeated in the Register of Soldiers Effects whereas the Medal Roll and Medal Index Card states he was service number 61996 Durham Light Infantry and 19280 Labour Corps, there also seems to have been some confusion as to the correct spelling of his name, listed in error as Private G. W. Byran. I queried this anomaly with the CWGC but they were unable to shed any light on the situation other than to say the information was received by them post-war by the War Office.
Private George William Byram died November 8th 1917 and interred at Belgian Battery Corner Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen on the outskirts of Ypres, Belgium, which is adjacent to a nearby cottage used as a dressing station and from whence the majority of burials originate. It was also being used by the 8th Division in June 1917 after the Battle of Messines. He was interred as Private 39501 George William Byram Durham Light Infantry, 26 years of age, grave I. O. 11.
George William was single and had nominated his mother Margaret as sole beneficiary, she received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 16, Goschen Street, Southwick on Wear, Sunderland. His father commission at a cost of 6 shillings 5 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “SOMETIME WE’LL UNDERSTAND.”
Although all of George William’s brothers would have been eligible to serve during WW1 no records have been found but J.W. (Joseph Wilson) and R. (Robert) are mentioned as having served in the Primitive Methodist Welcome Home Booklet S130.12.
John William Byram (71) died in 1929 Margaret Byram nee Veitch (67) in 1933, both registered in the district of Sunderland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George William Byram is remembered at Southwick on S130.08, S130.13 and S130.22, at Sunderland in in S140.48 Part 12 page 262 and in Peter Gibson’s book.
